Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,601–1,620 of 2,619 · Ministry of Defence
With reference to page 133 of his Department's Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made in implementing the Defence Estate Optimisation programme.
The Defence Estate Optimisation Portfolio was mobilised in 2016 and has completed, or is on construction on 22 projects having disposed of 30 surplus Ministry of Defence sites.
With reference to recommendation 48 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on revising the flying training arrangements for fast jets.
The RAF continues to implement incremental improvements as part of the continuous review of flying training. These include delivering additional synthetic training devices to RAF Valley and implementing the Combat Edge human performance optimisation programme, both designed to improve pass rates and enhance trainee resilience. Decisions on capabilities will be made in the Defence Investment Plan.
With reference to page 113 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, how arrangements for fast jet training are inadequate.
The Strategic Defence Review 2025 identified inadequacies in fast jet training arrangements, primarily due to the underperformance of the Hawk T2 aircraft, necessitating the initiation of a replacement programme. This issue, combined with the increased demand for fast jet pilot training following the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, has placed strain on existing training capacity. During this transitional period, the shortfall has been mitigated through outsourcing agreements with allies and partners, utilising their military fast jet training programmes worldwide.
When the Protector programme will receive approval for a review note.
A revised Review Note will be submitted to re-baseline the Protector RG Mk1 programme once the Defence Investment Plan has been released and the impact is understood.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact for the RAF's F-35B fleet of the reasons for the crash of a USAF F-35A on 28 January 2025.
The RAF has a comprehensive Air Safety Management System, which includes learning from aircraft accident and incidents. As a F-35 Partner Nation, the UK works with the F-35 Joint Program Office to continuously improve F-35 operational effectiveness and safety.
What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Future Materials Campus programme.
The Future Materials Campus programme remains in an early phase of its development and we are engaging with industry to support its delivery. The programme is developing a value for money model that utilises modern methods of construction and ensures flexibility to meet future demands of the nuclear deterrent programmes.
What recent progress he has made on implementing the Mine Hunting Capability programme.
The Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme continues to deliver an advanced suite of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) into service within the Royal Navy, enabling frontline mine warfare specialists to enhance operational effectiveness. These cutting-edge autonomous mine-hunting systems are deployed by the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group for evaluation, training, and operational deployment. The comprehensive scope of the MHC programme encompasses multiple USVs, UUVs, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for identification and neutralisation, and a state-of-the-art, sovereign mine-sweeping capability. Additionally, the programme has delivered HMS STIRLING CASTLE, a dedicated support vessel designed to enhance the deployment and sustainment of autonomous systems.
What recent estimate he has made of when the export of Type 31 Arrowhead frigates to Poland will be completed.
The Polish MIECZNIK frigate programme is constructing three Arrowhead-variant frigates under licence from Babcock in Poland. This is a Polish programme and it would be inappropriate for His Majesty's Government to comment on the progress of another nation's procurement schedule.
With reference to page 71 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what recent progress he has made on establishing a career education pathway.
Respective Military Commands are responsible for reviewing their career education pathways as they have differing requirements on the front line. The Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ) will oversee these reviews during 2026 and consider where greater coherence would yield benefits to the development and delivery of an Integrated Force that can fight and win in multi-domain operations. By April 2026, MSHQ will ‘own’ funding and will both direct and influence Military Commands to concentrate on Joint and NATO-first education.
With reference to page 71 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what recent progress he has made on reforming (a) training and (b) education policy.
Defence is progressing its review of training and education policy; work is ongoing to meet this intent by January 2026. We aim to generate a more digestible Joint Service Publication (JSP) 822 (Defence Direction and Guidance for Training and Education), increased responsiveness of training to operational changes, and enhanced organisational learning – with training being based on emergent front-line requirements. A pan-Defence forum will be held in November 2025 to showcase the revised draft JSP 822 and gain 1-star level stakeholder endorsement from across the Military Commands.
With reference to page 71 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what civilian (a) qualifications and (b) standards are in scope to be adopted.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is undertaking a comprehensive review of military training to confirm appropriate alignment with civilian qualifications and standards, while ensuring operational readiness and the capacity to scale up training to meet warfighting requirements. This work is part of the Defence Accreditation Review, which aims to cohere, simplify, modernise and improve existing accreditation frameworks. The review encompasses qualifications on the Regulated Qualifications Framework, apprenticeships, professional certifications, and industry standards. Progress includes an assessment of current qualifications, the identification of data gaps, and the trialling of artificial intelligence to enhance training development and accreditation. We are formulating recommendations for accreditation policy and exploring the role of the Defence Awarding Organisation in this context. This work demonstrates our commitment to maintaining operational readiness and the professional development of our personnel, ensuring they are prepared for both the demands of war and their future civilian careers.
With reference to page 70 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what his planned timetable is for making these day-to-day processes easier.
The Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan (which is part of our Defence Investment Plan) to be published in the autumn, will include initiatives that will deliver automation across Human Resources, Finance and Commercial functions, driven through Corporate Services Modernisation that will deliver improved processes through new automated tools and systems across the functions. The specific automation savings and timelines across all workforces are currently being defined in detail to meet the Strategic Defence Review recommendations. The benefits and associated financial savings with these initiatives along with the timelines to deliver this are subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan. The automation of HR, Financial and Commercial processes will enable Defence to redeploy Armed Forces Personnel from administrative roles to Front Line roles.
With reference to page 43 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, what progress he has made on establishing UK Defence Innovation.
UK Defence Innovation launched on 1 July 2025 and expects to be fully operational by July 2026. Work continues at pace on implementing, transitioning, and operationalising the full system. The Strategic Defence Review set out clear priorities for defence, with a strong emphasis on the need for rapid delivery of innovation. The launch of UK Defence Innovation will help to deliver a modern, resilient, and technologically advanced force by accelerating innovation, supporting strategic autonomy, and driving collaboration across defence, industry, and academia.
With reference to page 42 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, how much of the £10 billion contingency for the Dreadnought programme he estimates will be spent this Parliament.
To date £3.37 billion contingency has been utilised with the remainder allocated to future years including beyond the current Parliament. Dreadnought contingency spend is reported to Parliament via the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Annual Update, once final outturn figures are confirmed.
With reference to page 71 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what recent progress he has made on developing a two-way secondment programme.
The Ministry of Defence currently has provisions in place for formal inward and outward secondments, which are used successfully across the Armed Forces and Civil Service. We are now exploring options for developing a similar, less formal arrangement, reviewing its potential benefits for Defence and evaluating our capacity to adapt and manage the workforce effectively.
With reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on exploring the development of a new force modelled on the reserves which connects local communities with defence.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 September 2025 to Question 70739 to the hon. Member for Gravesham (James Cartlidge).
With reference to page 91 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on reinvigorating the strategic reserve.
The Military Strategic Headquarters, in partnership with the Military Commands, is leading work to plan the reinvigoration of the Strategic Reserve. This includes scoping how to increase engagement through annual training opportunities, exercises and exploring a digitised approach to Reserves management.
With reference to page 71 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Education to help tackle barriers to education for people within his Department.
Defence officials continue to work closely with colleagues in the Department for Education to ensure consistency of educational frameworks, standards and outcomes. We work hard to remove barriers to learning for our personnel and provide tailored support for those with Specific Learning Differences. Support is provided through English and Maths Functional Skills training, promotion of GCSE attainment, industry-recognised apprenticeships that accredit trade training, and schemes like Standard and Enhanced Learning Credits. Our leadership and management development programmes, using professional partners, as well as allowances for further and higher education, also provide opportunities for continued learning and development.
With reference to box 12 page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in developing acoustic detection systems (a) powered by artificial intelligence and (b) integrated into the digital targeting web.
Atlantic Bastion is a portfolio of programmes to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and in support of NATO against a range of underwater threats. It will develop a range of capabilities that enhance existing systems and deploy new platforms into the North Atlantic. It is separate from Baltic Sentry, which is a NATO led activity in the Baltic Sea to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure. The Royal Navy will be able to learn from Baltic Sentry and be able to share lessons from Bastion programmes with NATO allies. Through AUKUS Pillar 2, the nations are working together on an algorithm to support Maritime Patrol Aircraft processing systems. This work will inform future capability development of Bastion systems powered by AI to enhance acoustic detection. Capability options under Atlantic Bastion are submitted for consideration in the Defence Investment Plan. Options for capabilities that would be deployable from the Type 26 Frigate Force are included in these options.
With reference to page 113 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in increasing RAF reserves by 50%.
The RAF continues to make positive progress toward increasing its Reserves by 50% by focusing on recruitment activity, structural reform and strategic alignment. The RAF is prioritising the growth of the Part Time Volunteer Reserves, who are the reserve of first choice for operational support, while also enhancing the management and training of the Strategic Reserve to maximise the skills and experience of ex-Regular personnel.